Method of and means for processing multiple filament thread bundles



Nov. 17, 1942. x. E. LovET-r METHOD 0F AND MEANS FOR PRGCESSING'MULTIPLE FILAMENT THREAD BUNDLES Filed 'June 2o, 19:58

2 Sheets-Sheet l 3 nnentor Lows E. L OVETT- www@ dttorneg Now 17, 1942. E, LOVE-[ T METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR PROCESSING MULTIPLE FILAMENT THREAD BUNDLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 20, 1938 lnventor Louis E. I OVETT M dttorneg Patented Nov.. 17, 1942 UNITED STATE s PATENT o-EEICE METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR PROCESSING MULTIPLE FILAMENT THREAD BUNDLES Louis E. Lovett, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assigner to Industrial Rayon Corporation, Cleveland,

6 Claims.

This invention pertains to a novel method of and means for manufacturing thread-like articles characterized by a large number of filaments. While the method and apparatus of the invention may beadvantageously employed in the manufacture of multiple filament thread such as that customarily used in knitting or weaving operations, the practice of the invention is especially adapted to the continuous processing of thread bundles of the relatively large titer ordinarily employed in the manufacture of staple ber; e. g., 5,000 t0 100,000 denier. As herein-k after used, the termthread will be employed in a generic sense to cover thread bundles of this type, multiple filament thread of the kind customarily employed in knitting and weaving operations, and thread-like articles generally, whether of natural or synthetic origin.

Among other things, the invention contemplates the substantially tensionless treating of thread on a series of thread-advancing thread store devices. In the processing of thread upon most, if not all, types of thread-advancing thread store devices, tensional stresses are induced in the thread. The introduction of such tensional stresses, especially in multiple filament thread, `tends to damage the thread by weakening and breaking the individual filaments, which often `become snarled and knotted to such an extent as 'to make it very diicuit to process the thread upon the thread-advancing thread store devices. One of the advantages vof the present inventipn is that these stresses can be minimized by the" practice of the invention, thereby eliminating the resultant breaking and weakening of the filaments. A further important advantage follows from the fact that the invention provides an opportunity to treat the thread more thoroughly. Thus the physical immersion of the thread in the processing liquid permits each of the laments comprising the thread to be completely surrounded by the treating bath. Other advantages will be apparent asthe description of the invention proceeds.

The method and apparatus of the invention may find application in any mode of producing or processing thread, particularly multiple filament thread of relatively large titer. The novel method and means of the invention may, for example, readily be adapted to any of the known processes for manufacturing artificial silk'or wool thread; e. g., the viscose, cuprammonium, cellulose acetate and casein processes. Although, any type of thread may be advantageously manufactured or processed according to the methods suggested by 55 the instant invention, for purposes of illustration the invention will be described and lillustrated as applied to the continuous processi/.of manufacturing a viscose artiiicial silk thread bundle suitable for reduction by cutting or otherwise to fibers of staple length. /f

In the accompanyingl drawings, which illustrate but one of the possible embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 represents a' front elevation of a continuous processing machine in which the method and means of the invention' are employed. Figure 2 is a plan of the machine of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a partial front elevation oi Va portion of the machine from line 3--3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a sectional elevation along line 4 4 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a thread-advancing thread store' device which may be used to advantage in the machine of Figures 1 and 2. Throughout the drawings, corresponding parts bear corresponding reference characters. In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the machine is shown as embodying a plurality of thread-advancing thread store devices disposed. in horizontal arrangement, each of said devices being supported and driven from one end only thereof. As Will appear from consideration of the principles of the invention `as hereinafter set forth, any one of various other arrangements of thread-advancing thread store devices may, if desired, be substituted for that shown. Neither is it necessary to the practice of the invention that lthe thread-advancing thread store devices take the form of thread-advancing reels, as illustrated; but for convenience in describing the invention thethread-advancing thread store devices will be referred to hereinafter simply as reels.

Generally speaking, the apparatus comprises a plurality of such reels from one to another of which the thread, preferably inthe forni of a slack loop, proceeds through a processing batn. The slack loop may conveniently be formed in the course or' the threading-up operation by permitting a sufficient length oi' thread to be discharged from the unsupported end of one of a pair of reels devoted to the same or different processing stages, permitting said tnread to hang loosely in the processing medium through winch it is to be passed,'and conducting the leading end of the thread to the supported end of the otherl reel of said pair. In this manner the thread will be continuously discharged from the first of said reels; advanced through the processing medium in the form of a slack loop, and withdrawn by the succeeding reel.

The apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 embodies two identical operating faces extending lengthwise thereof each of which comprises at least one but may comprise two, three or more similarly arranged tiers of reels. Each tier has associated therewith a trough 8 containing a coagulating bath 1 in which are immersed a plurality of spinnerets 9 by means of which are formed the multiple filament threads A. The latter are combined by any suitable means such as the guide I to form thread bundle B which is passed in sequence to each of the reels oi' the tier, passing thence to a cutter or the like for reducing the thread bundle to fibers of staple length.

Although the reels may take any suitable form, reels of the type illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings may be employed to advantage. 'I'he reels-shown are similar in design and operation to that shown, described and claimed in Knebusch Patent 2,210,914 and therefore need be only briefly explained herein. From the reel described in said patent they dier principally in that they are of cantilever form, as a result of which the thread may be discharged from the unsupported end thereof.

The reel preferably comprises two rigid reel members II and I2 made up of a p1urality of longitudinally .extending bar members I3 and I4, respectively, which bar members are alternately disposed with respect toveach other to form the generally cylindrical periphery of said reel. The reel member II, which is referred to as the concentric member, consists of a supporting spider I5 which supports the bar members I3 thereof and is secured to drive shaft I6 by set screw I1 so as. to rotate therewith. The second reel member I2, known as the eccentric member, is provided with a supporting disc I8 mounted in such a manner as to rotate 'freely upon the frame member I9 in which the shaft I6 is journalled. The bearings for the reel members are so arranged that the axes thereof are in offset and inclined relation to each other. A

By reason of the above-described arrangement, when the shaft I6 is rotated, the reel member II mounted concentrically upon and fixed thereto likewise rotates and because of the interdigitating relation of the bars I3 and I4 drives reel member I2 by bar-to-bar contact. At the same time, the relative radial displacement of the bars causes the thread to be supported first by one set of bars and then by the other while the inclined relation causes it to advance longitudinally of the reel as a whole. Taken together, both actions result in progressing the thread from one end of the reel to the other substantially in the form of a helix made up of a large number of closely spaced turns. y

Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, the thread bundle B, after passing through the guide I0, is caused to wind on the first reel 2|, which serves as a holding reel for permitting the regeneration of the cellulose content of the viscose to proceed to substantial completion. Although a suitable coagulating liquid may, if desired, be showered upon the thread bundle B on reel 2|, it has been found that no additional coagulating liquid need be supplied to the thread bundle on this reel, sufficient liquid being carried over from the coagulating bath for this purpose. Tray 25, an extension of trough 8, may be employed to catch the liquid dripping from reel 2l and direct it back to said trough.

Thread bundle B may be subjected on the reels 22a, 22h, etc. to any of a variety of suitable processing treatments such as washing, desulphurizing, bleaching, etc.

Due to the large size of the thread bundle B. it is desirable to employ methods of processing which will relieve tensional stresses induced in the individual filaments thereof as well as to insure complete and thorough processing. This may be done in any suitable manner but may be accomplished to advantage by employing two reels such for example, as reels 22a and 22b for a single processing stage, winding the thread bundle B first upon said reel 22a. Between reels 22a and 22b the thread bundle B is permitted to form a slack loop B extending from the discharge point C on reel 22a to the lead-on point D on reel 22h. A single processing liquid is applied to the thread bundle B upon both reels from distributors 21 supplied from storage tanks 28 by conduits 29, being caught in the troughs 30 disposed therebelow.

This loop B is suspended in the liquid 3| contained in an arcuate reservoir 32 toward which troughs 30 may slope, if desired. Supply pipe 33 and overflow pipe 34 serve to keep a constant quantity of fresh processing liquid in reservoir 32. The overflow pipe 34 is connected to a suitable conduit (not shown) which conducts excess processing liquid either to the sewer, in the event that the processing liquid is to be used only once, or, if the processing liquid is of such nature that it may be re-used, to make-up means to be pumped back to storage tanks 28 for recirculation.

In the oase of reels 22a and 22h, the thread bundle B discharged from the unsupported end of reel 2| proceeds to the supported end of reel 22a which is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. It is advanced longitudinally along the periphery of reel 22a toward the unsupported end thereof in generally helical form. Upon reaching the unsupported end of reel 22a, thread bundle B proceeds through reservoir 32 in the form of slack loop B until it reaches the supported end of reel 22b likewise rotated in counterclockwlse direction. Upon reel 22h it; is again advanced toward the unsupported end thereof in generally helical form. As will be observed from Figures l and 2 of the drawings, the reels 22a and 22h are disposed obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus as a whole, so that the discharge end of reel 22a is in apposition to the receiving end of reel 22h.

After thread bundle B has been subjected to the desired treatment on reels 22a and 22b, it is passed through an aperture 42 in the wall of the trough 30 to and between a pair of squeeze rolls 31 provided for the purpose of removing as much as possible of the processing liquid carried over from the stage through which the thread bundle has just passed.

A bracket 43 secured to the wall of trough 3l! serves to support squeeze rolls 31. The lower roll is mounted on the rotatable shaft 40, while the upper roll is mounted on a short shaft 44 movable in a,vertical plane to permit adjustment of the space between the rolls, such adjustment being effected through screws 45 by compressing or releasing springs 46 held against the bearing blocks 41 at either end of shaft 44. A short channel 48 disposed below the squeeze rolls 31 carries the liquid removed from the thread gears 39, shaft 4l) and spur gears 4I. The squeezev rolls 31 serve to prevent contamination of the processing liquid of subsequent processing stages.

As many processing stages as desired may be included in the apparatus, taking into account the particular process of production being followed. Each subsequent processing stage to which the filament bundle B is conducted will follow in order, utilizing in each case a pair of reels similar to reels 22a and 2211. Appropriate processing steps following the holding stage on the reel 2| may include a washing stage, desulphurizing, a second washing stage, bleaching, a final washing stage, oiling, etc., after which the thread bundle may be reduced to fibers of staple length. Alternatively, after the final washing the thread bundle may be conducted to a drying reel, dried', and collected in 'suitable' package form.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the individual reels are driven in a counterclockwise direction in order to obtain the greatest length of thread in the loop B consistent with the floor space which may be allotted to the apparatus. The reels may be driven from a power source (not shown) by a longitudinal shaft 50 and gear boxes 5Iv supported from a central frame, as indicated, on which the reel frame members may be mounted. The shaft 38 actuating the squeeze rolls 31 may be driven from the same source of power as the shaft 50. The counterclockwise rotation of the reels necessitates the provision of apertures 42 in the sides of the troughs surrounding reels 2 I, 22a, 2217, etc., to permit the passage of the thread bundle from one processing stage to another. I l

Various modifications of the apparatus shown and described may be made without in any way affecting or departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. It may be found, for example, that in some instances the introduction of the processing liquid from distributor 21 on'the second reel in each processing stage is unnecessary,

the application of the processing liquid 'on the first reel being sufcient, in view of the subsequent immersion of the loop, to effect the thorough processing of the thread bundle. If it is desired-.to increase the period of processing, itl

is a simple matter to provide additional reels for each processing stage or for any given stagel or stages where additional treatment may be required.

The practice of the instant invention provides a very efficient method of processing thread of large denier. As previously indicated, the description of the invention in its application to the production of artificial silk thread for conversion into fibers of staple length is not intended as a limitation, since it is equally well adapted to the production of any other kind of thread, artificial straw, artificial horsehair or similar thread-like articles. the patent shall cover, by suitable expressionl in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty :reside in the invention. l What is claimed is:

It is intended thatA applying a processing liquid 1. The method of to a multiple filament thread bundle which is traveling from one point to another in extended condition comprising impressing the characteristics of an advancing helix upon said thread bundle at each of two laterally spaced zones along its path of travel; advancing said helices at the same peripheral speed; and, in the intermediate zone through which said thread bundle travels from one to the other of said helices, causing said thread bundle to proceed through a body of processing liquid in the form of a substantially tensionless slack loop.

2. The method of applying a processing liquid to a multiple filament thread bundle which is traveling from one point to another in extended condition comprising continuously but temporarily storing said thread bundle upon a threadadvancing reel at each of two laterally spaced zones along its path of travel; rotating said thread-advancing vreels at the same peripheral speed; and, in the intermediate zone through which said thread bundle travels from one to the other of said thread-advancing reels, causing said thread bundle to proceed through a body of processing liquid in the form of a substantially tensionless slack loop.

3. The method according to claim 2 in which 4said multiple 'filament thread bundle is subjected to additional processing treatment on one or both of said thread-advancing reels.

`4. The method according to claim 2 in which substantially all of the adherent processing liquid is expressed from saidA multiple filament thread bundle after leaving the second of said thread-advancing reels. l 4 V 5. Apparatus for the application of one or more processing-liquids to a multiple filament thread bundle which is traveling from one point y vto another in extended condition comprising a reservoir; meansy for maintaining a supply of processing liquid in said reservoir; and at leastl two independently functioning thread-advancing thread store devices operating at substantially the same peripheral speed disposed in such relation to said reservoir that a thread bundle passing from one to the other of said devices will be immersed in the form of a slack loop in the processing liquid in said reservoir, said slack loop taking the form of a catenary curve.

6. Apparatus for the application of one or more processing liquids to a multiple filament thread bundle which is traveling from one point to another in extended condition comprising a reservoir; means for maintaining a supply of processing liquid in said reservoir; at least ytwo independently functioning thread-advancing thread store devices operating at substantially the same peripheral speed disposed in such relationl to said reservoir that a thread bundle passing from one to another of. said devices will be immersed in the form of a slack loop in the processing liquid in said reservoir, said slack loop taking the form of a catenary curve; and means adjacent the last of said thread-advancing thread store devices for removing substantially all of theadherent processing liquid from said thread bundle.

- LOUIS E. LOV'ETT. 

